New On Video: 'Pinnochio'
POSTED: 6:09 p.m. EDT July 18, 2003
'Pinocchio' (G) "Bizarre" is the only word that can describe "Life is Beautiful" auteur Roberto Benigni's "Pinocchio" -- a disastrous take on the classic tale that was all but dead on arrival in theaters in late December.
Benigni's biggest mistake was a last-minute decision to have American actors dub in their voices in favor of subtitles for the Italian production, and the results are for the most part laughable. The most glaring mismatch is the much-younger Breckin Meyer, who dubs for Benigni; while the likes of Glenn Close, Jim Belushi and yes, Regis Philbin, do their best to voice the Blue Fairy, Geppetto and a circus ringmaster, respectively.
For adults, the horribly out-of-sync dialogue and action will wonderfully hearken the days of "Godzilla" on the tube on Saturday afternoons. As for the kids, well, it will just plain leave them confused. The subtitled version is thankfully packaged in the two disc-set, and while it dulls the pain of the dubbed version, it will again, well, leave the kids confused. Do them a favor and rent them the original Disney animated classic.
The film, of course, works best on a visual level. An inspired shot where the boy Pinocchio leaves behind his wooden counterpart concludes the film -- it's just too bad that it couldn't have invoked the same sense of wonderment before that.
Given his deeply affecting Holocaust drama "Life is Beautiful," Begnini's has proven that he's a talented filmmaker; it's just with this film, you just get the feeling that it spiraled far out his control.
DVD Features: English-dubbed and Italian versions of the film; featurette on creating the English-dubbed version, more. (Miramax Home Entertainment)
Benigni's biggest mistake was a last-minute decision to have American actors dub in their voices in favor of subtitles for the Italian production, and the results are for the most part laughable. The most glaring mismatch is the much-younger Breckin Meyer, who dubs for Benigni; while the likes of Glenn Close, Jim Belushi and yes, Regis Philbin, do their best to voice the Blue Fairy, Geppetto and a circus ringmaster, respectively.
For adults, the horribly out-of-sync dialogue and action will wonderfully hearken the days of "Godzilla" on the tube on Saturday afternoons. As for the kids, well, it will just plain leave them confused. The subtitled version is thankfully packaged in the two disc-set, and while it dulls the pain of the dubbed version, it will again, well, leave the kids confused. Do them a favor and rent them the original Disney animated classic.
The film, of course, works best on a visual level. An inspired shot where the boy Pinocchio leaves behind his wooden counterpart concludes the film -- it's just too bad that it couldn't have invoked the same sense of wonderment before that.
Given his deeply affecting Holocaust drama "Life is Beautiful," Begnini's has proven that he's a talented filmmaker; it's just with this film, you just get the feeling that it spiraled far out his control.
DVD Features: English-dubbed and Italian versions of the film; featurette on creating the English-dubbed version, more. (Miramax Home Entertainment)Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
